The sky had just turned from black to a light blue with orange and pink and purple running across the clouds. It was cold out this morning as I moved swiftly through the trees watching for movement. I crouched down to stare at the tracks I have been following for the last hour now and they looked very recent. I exhaled and a stream of white came out of my mouth. It had almost been a full year since the warrior Ceremony, I had turned 16 a week ago and already I had learned more than I did as a second.

I serve as the Chiefs second in command after hers died in a fight with the Ice Nation. They are getting bolder with every day that has passed. Lexa has been sending letters telling me of her exploits in gaining the other clan's trust. It's a long and difficult road she said but she is so close to getting the 12 clan coalition. I send her as much love and luck as I can while being busy with the duty that was asked upon me by Lexa's mom. I honestly call her mom as well but she is still Lexa's first.

Why then am I out here? I can never get away from my duties during the day so in the morning I hunt and spend time in the forest honing my skills as a warrior. I love to go hunting in the morning and bring back meat for the clan and serve as the main healer when my mother was occupied with the Chief. They had gotten more serious. I think they have been talking about a bonding ceremony. I smiled at that thinking about how much my mom is happy with Lexa's mom.

I only hope this happiness stays in a time of war. The med bay was getting more and more packed the more we were at war with the Ice Nation. I don't know how bad it is yet because they haven't really attacked villages. They just ambush travelers so far. I hope it never comes to that though. I sighed again and watched as my breath streamed out.

Lexa and I…haven't really talked after the Ceremony. She doesn't know it but I saw what she did during the feast. She sends me letters almost every day now but hardly do I ever respond after what I witnessed I try and keep it to a minimum. I know I shouldn't hold it against her since she doesn't feel the same way about me...but it's hard to feel this pain and not hold it against the person you love when they are with another.

I stopped for a second and sat down on a rock as I checked my watch. I stared at the watch thinking of my dad. There were so many things I wish I had done to maybe have kept myself up there with all of them. I missed the friends I had, I barely remembered what their faces looked like but I remember their names. I tucked a piece of blond hair behind my ear and put my arms around my knees as I laid my head down. Could I really hold what I saw over Lexa more than I have? She's already starting to wonder why I haven't written her as much as she has and I've been making excuses about being the Chief's second, it makes me extremely busy but really it's not.

I thought about the last time I saw her. It was during the feast after the Ceremony.

"Clarke?" I looked up at my name being said and there was Lexa. She was smiling as she sat down next to me with the feast going on in full swing. She handed a plate to me and I grinned gratefully.

"Thanks Lex." I sighed as I took a bite out of a piece of meat and Lexa leaned into me a little. We both sat at the honoring table with our mother's. I knew Lexa was looking at me but I refused to meet her eyes. I wanted to ask so many questions about this girl she had kissed but I didn't know how to ask her.

"Her name is Costia." Lexa said quietly.

I started and looked up at Lexa as she stared sadly into my eyes.

"That's the question you were going to ask wasn't it?"

I looked down and swallowed as I took another bite of my food.

"It's none of my business who you love Lex."

I felt her shift and I looked back up at her. She almost looked uneasy at my words as she looked across the courtyard to land on the girl in question.

"I met her one day in Polis…I missed you terribly and the first thought I had when I looked into her eye's was that they reminded me of you."

My eyes grew a little at her words. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say to that but Lexa didn't think I needed to say anything as she continued.

"I was just looking for a friend. But then we grew closer than I ever thought I would with someone and then she kissed me and I knew what I was feeling for her was something I hadn't felt for just anyone."

I looked away then and nodded contemplating those exact words. It hurt. Knowing she loved the girl we were talking about.

"I'm glad you're happy Lexa." I said.

I continued eating not looking at her.

"You were brave today Clarke. Our people…they respect you."

I looked up then as she touched my bandaged arm. She was staring at me like I was the only one in the world. I was taken aback at the intensity of the look.

"They will remember the sky girl that bled at her own hand this night."

She moved closer as she tapped her forehead to mine.

"You did well."

I stared at her as she looked into my eyes and I was mesmerized by the greens I never noticed far away. Is this what it would be like if she was mine?

My heart beat strongly in my chest as my arms got goosebumps.

"Heda?"

We both turned to the new voice and I almost let out a growl and narrowed my eyes but instead I frowned as Costia stood there. She was looking at us in confusion and then she looked at me and we stared at each other. She nodded to me.

"Skai Prisa."

I didn't nod back as she turned back to Lexa.

"May I speak with you a moment?"

Lexa nodded and then looked back at me and squeezed my hand.

"I will be back shortly."

I nodded and then watched as she got up to follow Costia away towards the Chief's tent where she was staying.

I watched the celebration for a few minutes before deciding to follow. I knew curiosity killed the cat…but…I had to know what was happening.

When I reached the tent opening I heard multiple gasps and my eyes widened as I immediately looked in and suddenly felt extremely sick to my stomach.

Costia was being pinned to the table by Lexa who was kissing her with so much passion. I felt tears fill my eyes. Costia pushed her back and ripped her shirt off as she pushed Lexa towards the bed that was set up for her and straddled her as she took her own shirt off. I had to turn away as I stood there in the dark standing next to the entrance feeling tears silently drip down my face as I bit my lip all to hell. I knew this was what their relationship meant…but I still couldn't believe it.

I turned away from the party meant for me and Lexa as I took off into the trees I didn't want to look at Lexa and see what I just saw every time I looked at her. I ran and kept running as far as I could. I didn't stop. I went farther than I had ever gone alone and yet I still kept going. I didn't stop until the sun broke over the horizon I had run all night long. I stopped as I arrived at a cliff and looked out as the sun rose. I sat down on the edge catching my breath as tears still continued to run down my face. They hadn't stopped.

She wasn't mine. I knew that, and yet here I was so far from home feeling like my insides are crushing each other. I got up and turned around as I looked back into the woods and then I faced the cliff and screamed as loud as I could. Birds scattered from the cliffs edge and I breathed heavily as I watched them fly off. I wanted to fly off right now, away from this pain. I looked down and saw forests far and wide. I wouldn't survive if I jumped that much was certain.

I sat back down and put my head on my arms as I watched the sun rise until it began to warm up. Was it possible to just stay out here forever? I fell asleep laying on my arms looking at the view until much later that day. By the time I woke up I was already being carried. I jolted awake when I realized I was weightless and I looked up to find Lexa. Her jaw was clenched as she looked down at me ready to kill and I gulped. I tried to move but she just gripped me harder to her. I looked around and saw no one else and I was completely confused.

"No one is here besides us Clarke." She said angrily.

"How did you…"

"I've been looking for you since this morning!" she snapped out.

I flinched as I looked away.

Nothing was said as she continued to carry me in the direction I assumed was home. It was already getting dark again. I had really been out there all day.

"You can let me down now." I said.

"So that you can run away again?" Lexa bit out angrily. "Why did you leave Clarke." She hissed my name and I felt my face flame up in shame.

"You don't get to talk to me like this Lexa. I can take care of myself." I snapped back but not as harshly as what Lexa was doing.

Suddenly I was dropped on my ass and I yelped, before I could get up Lexa was hovering over me on the ground.

Her hands next to my head and her face extremely close to mine.

Her eyes were filled with fury and I realized she had been scared, scared of something happening to me.

"Do you have any idea how worried your mom is!? How worried I was!" she screamed in my face and I turned it to the side not looking at her.

Her hand grabbed my chin and turned my face to look at her.

"Don't look away from me Clarke Griffin!" she said. "You don't get to do that!"

I closed my eyes.

"Lexa…get out of my face."

"Or what." She said angrily.

I paused at her words.

"Or I'll never talk to you again." I said.

We both were quiet.

She slowly got off of me and sat down next to me as I laid there on the ground.

"I thought they had gotten you." she said.

I looked over to Lexa as she put her arms around her knees and looked off into the forest.

"The Ice Nation is growing in power Clarke. It's worse then I first let on."

I sat up and looked at her.

"I'm sorry Lex. I only meant to be out for a little bit but I fell asleep."

She glared at me.

"That was more than just a little bit Clarke…the fact that you were all the way where I found you meant you were going in that direction. You didn't just end up a place so far away from camp. I know you."

I looked into her eyes debating on whether or not I should tell her how I feel but then I shook my head and looked off into the woods as well.

"Something upset me. I had to get away for a little while."

"What is keeping you this way Clarke?"

She moved closer and the look of concern was too much for me.

"It's nothing now. I'm over it. We should probably get back."

I got up and she followed suit but then she grabbed my hand.

I turned back around to her.

"If you ever want to give it to someone else, I'll be that person." She said.

I smiled at her and she smiled back.

That was going to never happen but it was a good thought.

We walked back to camp in silence holding hands. I was trying my hardest to hold onto the feeling we had then because I knew when we were back at camp she wouldn't be mine.

She'd be Costia's.

I came out of my thoughts when I saw the deer that I had been tracking. I smirked. At least one thing is going well today.

I got up from the rock I had been sitting on and took my bow in my hand, knocking an arrow. I was silent as I got closer and pulled back breathing out ready to shoot.

A scream sounded and I jumped out of my skin as the deer ran. My eyes widened. I turned around and saw smoke in the distance. My stomach filled with dread. Mom…Nomon…I immediately sprang to action.

I took off as fast as I could back towards the village running full speed letting fear take over me to get me there faster, then saw the first of them. The Ice Nation. I didn't even think as I pulled back and let loose an arrow right into one's throat that was about to stab an innocent woman. All our warriors were with Lexa or hunting farther out they would never make it in time. I gasped heavily as I looked around and began to let loose more arrows as they filed into the village. I looked around as houses began to burn and more women and children ran out.

"GO! TO THE HEALERS TENT GO!" I roared. The healers began motioning the villagers into the tent that was next to the Chiefs and I ran out of arrows just as a knife was thrown at me. I knocked it away with my bow and launched the bow at the invader hitting him in the head just as I pulled my sword. There were 10 of them. I looked around and everyone had heard me. No one was outside as the village burned and smoke passed us. I felt fury boil within me. This would not stand.

"You are invading the home of your Heda!" I roared. "Leave and you shall all die swiftly!"

I held my sword in front of me as they all laughed.

"Your great Commander is no one to us girl…we only follow the Ice Queen." They said laughing more. "You are but a girl that shall die easily there isn't even a reason to know your name."

My eyes glowed from the fire beginning to surround us as my muscles tensed and body bowed up.

"You have threatened my home…you have killed my people…you will know it after I kill you all except one…." I said calmly as my eyes hardened.

I never had wanted to kill anyone before until today. They would all burn.

I moved then, lowering myself as I ran towards them I dodged an axe as I pivoted around and sliced into the Axeman's tendons behind his knee's he fell screaming. A man went to stab me but I moved and he ended up stabbing the man I had just cut down. He choked on his blood as he lay on the ground lifeless. I sliced the man who had his sword stuck in the guy below me across the neck and blood spurted out and hit me across the face and hair. I didn't stop even if I could taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. My face hardened as I looked at the 8 men. 7 to go. They were all wary of me then, seeing how I killed the other two.

They weren't getting away. I looked back and all the women and children were watching what was happening shocked. I raised my arm that had my sword in it showing off my tattoo to the men in front of me.

"I am Clarke! Gunna of the Skaikru! The Skai Prisa! The Protector of the Trikru while our Heda is away! Second to the Chief in this Village! You will know the pain and suffering of them people you have killed today!" I roared angrily.

The men looked at each other and back at me and then roared as they all charged me. I screamed as the fighting began. It was all a blur of weapons and clanking. I was diving, ducking, weaving, dodging and slicing as men scream in agony. All I saw was the enemies in front of me.

I could feel their warm blood against my skin and clothes but I didn't stop even after my arm and side were sliced and bleeding. They weren't serious. It came to a standstill as I breathed heavily and 5 men were dead at my feet. The last two were trembling in horror. A young girl had taken out 8 men by herself. There was fear in their eyes. I had killed 15 men in total counting the 7 I had killed my arrows.

I looked at the two men. There couldn't be 17 men in all…that wouldn't make sense. Then where did that scream come from that I had heard. I looked around and realized. I hadn't seen my mother or the Chief since I've been fighting. The color drained from my face.

"No…" I whispered.

One of the men sneered.

"You didn't think we were here just to burn this Village did you?" he laughed hysterically. It was almost mad as I looked at him in complete horror and disgust.

I pulled a throwing knife from my belt and before he could say anything else I threw it and it hit him right in the throat. He choked and fell bleeding out on the ground.

The last one was standing there. He looked my age and he was scared shitless. He had already pissed his pants as I began walking towards him. He was frozen. I saved him for last just because I knew he was weak. He was going to be the one I tortured. The one Lexa would get answers from.

He screamed and lundged at me and I grabbed his sword hand and twisted it around and he squealed like the pig he was and I slammed his head on the gat post and he fell.

I tied his feet and hands and began dragging him behind me to the Chief's tent. My face was full of dread and Grimm thoughts as I walked through the village that was burning. I looked at the healers and began barking orders to get those fires out. Women and children alike ran out and began getting water to douse the flames. Soot and dust fell across us all as they worked and I pulled the boy up to the post in the middle of the court yard and tied him there.

I looked on and then ran quickly while everyone was busy putting the flames out. Red caught my eye and my hands and arms were covered in it, my whole body was covered in it. I felt my hands began to tremble as bile rose to my mouth and I bent over and threw up my breakfast. I held myself up against the nearest post and heaved. I couldn't be weak right now. I felt warm tears streak through the tried blood on my face and I wiped the drips from my chin and jaw and then I quickly moved to the entrance of the Chiefs tent. Please…if there is a god out there…let them be alive so that I can save them. Please.

When I walked in I was immediately hit with the stench of death and blood. My nose crinkled as I looked around and there were 3 dead men lying on the ground but what really hit me was the woman covered in blood looking down at another laying in her arm's bleeding out slowly from her chest.

I quickly made my way to them and dropped to my knee's staring at the woman lying in the other's lap. I looked at the woman holding the other and it was my mom. She was silent as her unseeing eyes were staring at the dying Chief in her arms. She was silent as Lexa's mom looked at her with dead eyes, she was dead. Her hand loosely held in my mothers.

I didn't say anything for a few seconds as I stared at both of them and then I put my hand over top my mom's that was holding the Chief's.

"Mom…" I said trying to get her attention.

There was silence and then she shifted.

Her dead eyes were looking at me, she didn't see me.

She stared at me and then back at the Chief.

"She protected me." She whispered.

I could barely hear her and I shifted closer.

"What?" I asked.

I felt my mom's hand tighten undermine.

"It was my fault…they stormed in…and…" she stopped as she looked on. "She wasn't ready…she's always ready…" my mother's voice cracked. I began to feel pain. Roaring pain it was too much, this death this suffering. The Ice Nation would pay.

"Her back was to the door when they walked in…" my mother continued. "I screamed and they attacked as she whirled around. She fought and killed two but then the third was smarter. He saw me and took a knife from his belt and threw. Alex threw herself in front of it…that was it…that was it…she fell…but she wasn't immediately dead…I dropped to my knees and screamed loudly alerting the rest of the village…the three had been assassins while the other's waiting in the forest…they began to send flaming arrows in and the village began to burn…I watched as it happened Clarke…" her voice was hoarse as she began to sob lowering her head. Her hands were covered in blood as well.

"What happened to the third….you said two were killed by Nomon…what happened to the third…"

My mother looked to her left and I looked and saw a knife sticking out of his eye saw the blood and then we both looked away back to the Chief's body.

"She told me to pull it out…told me to…to…kill him…I knew it would kill her." My mother cried as she lowered her head to Alexandria's body. I let go of their hands and stood up. This couldn't be happening. I curled my fists trembling as I looked down at my mom who was broken and at the Chief I called my mother.

I lifted my head and screamed. I screamed until I couldn't any longer as it traveled across the village. It was a roar of anguish and strong conviction. I lowered my head breathing in and out as anger took over my body. I had my mom help me pick up the Chief's body and then I had her let go as I carried her in my arms outside of the tent. My body was on fire as I gritted my teeth and walked slowly out. All the villagers stopped what they were doing as they saw me, everyone growing silent. My body couldn't hold the Chiefs weight but I was going to do it as I walked into the court yard, my mother following behind with hollow eyes.

The adrenaline kept me going as everyone gathered around me as I held the Chief close to me and my face was red and I snarled out at the boy hanging from the pole I put him on. He was awake and bleeding as he looked down at me.

"YOU DID THIS!" I screamed. "YOU KILLED THESE PEOPLE!" I bared my teeth.

"You have brought something that you will wish you hadn't on the people you care about the most by declaring war to the Commander in this way." I showed him the woman his fellow warriors killed.

"DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS!? DO YOU!?" I was shaking as everyone looked at me.

"You have killed your people!" I roared at the boy as he continued to tremble on the post.

I heard horse's foot falls as we looked towards the gates. The men from the hunting trip was back and they were looking around in horror and then they spotted me and all ran to their families checking their kids and some of them screamed in anguish when they found theirs dead.

"LOOK AROUND ICE WARRIOR! LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" I yelled loudly.

"This is something we will never forget and you will not either when I'm done with you!"

A warrior I've known all my life named Ryder came up and looked down at me.

I nodded and handed the Chief to him and he took her as I drew my sword.

"Tonight…you will know the extent of your people's suffering when the Heda gets a hold of you all…"

I put my blade to his throat.

"I want five of you with the fastest horses to ride to Polis! Tell the Commander what has happened here! And tell her we have a warrior alive and well…and she shall be the one to kill him…NOW GO!"

Five warriors split away from the group and raced to their horses and road off.

The glint of bloodlust coursed through my eyes as I looked on at the Ice Warrior.

"You have not known horror until you have met the death sentence you will receive by killing a Chief of these lands…A chief that happens to be the Heda's…mother…"

The Ice Warrior began to scream and cry as he strained at his bonds. I flipped my sword and hit him with the hilt in the back of the head knocking him out.

"Chain him up in the holding cell! We will start at first light when the Commander arrives! NO ONE IS TO GO INTO THAT CELL DO YOU HEAR ME!"

There was a roar of approval and yes Prisa.

I looked one last time at the Chief's body in Ryder's hands as the prisoner was pulled down from the pole and taken away. I motioned for him to follow me back into the tent to lay her down so that my mother could clean her up. She was going to be perfect when Lexa arrived.

We had a lot of bodies to burn tomorrow, the village was extinguished come dark and the wounded helped. I saw in the medical tent staring at my blood caked hands as my mother sat by the bedside of the Chief as she laid there looking peaceful. It was almost as if she was still alive but we all knew she wasn't.

A healer came over carrying a bucket and water and tried to help me clean up but I pushed her away and shook my head. I wanted this to stay with me for a little longer. I wanted Lexa to see what they had done and had made me do. I wanted everyone to know what I had done. The 17 bodies lying in the courtyard was a testament to what I had to do. Tomorrow when they burned with the chief and all the one's they killed I would receive 17 marks across my shoulders. The men I had killed to save the people in this village.

This was justice I believed that now. Blood for Blood.

I got up and walked out behind the tent into the dark and then fell to my knee's trembling as I looked at my hands and grabbed dirt and tried to rub it all off. It wasn't working as I felt tears and sobs wrack my body. I know I'm still Clarke…the girl that I was when I was young…there was no changing that…but now…now I must go to war…I must be Clarke the Sky Prisa…I covered my ears with my hands and lowered my head in defeat. Today I could be weak. Tomorrow…I had to be strong.

"Yu gonplei ste odon…" I said out loud as I thought of all the people that were killed in cold blood today.

We would get answers. If it was the last thing we did. Lexa and I.

And that's the end of this chapter! You all are probably balling your eyes out now lol I'm sorry. Gotta feel that pain man! You love me :D Anyway that's really all I have to say about this chapter. All that pain is just something else really…losing someone that was close to you….that anger is for real!

Until next time, Artemis.